Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-04-06
PALESTINE.
Described by Native of jerusalem a
Christianized jew.

PALESTINE.
Described by a Native of Jerusalem,
Christianized jew.
The lectures by Wad- Edward, the
Christianized Jew, in the Ninth-street Bap-
fist Church, attract large audiences. Last
evening his discourse was continuation OF
journey through the Holy Land, which
commenced at Joppa and left off at the
Dead Sea on the preceding evening. The
lecture commenced with description OF
the River Jordan, and gave detailed de-
scription of the excursions from all over
the world that come to this stream to be
baptized at EPIPHANY time, twenty -four
days after Christmas. Those who are
Jealous in their religion. who have lived
exemplary lives, believe they VIII see the
reflection of the Holy Ghost in the water IN
the shape of dove. Crossing the Jordan
we ascend to Mount Nebo, from the sum-
NIT of which Moses was permitted to view
the promised land. Here we find an old
fortress so ancient that all trace OF Its orr
gin is lost. The stones of which 1t is con-
SHRUGGED are of Egyptian, Grecian, Roman,
but mostly of Phenician architecture The
view from Mount Nebo is one OF the grand
est in the world. The lecturer had stood
upon the summit of Pixies Peak, had
viewed the beauties of nature from the top
of Mount Washington, had looked down
from the heights of the grandest mountains
of Europe, had
STOOD AMONG THE CLOUDS
On the Himalaya. but no scene, however
extended, diversified or beautiful, could
approach in picturesque grandeur that
spread out before the beholder who drinks
in the beauties of nature from Mount
Nebo. The mountains in the distance, the
fertile valleys, the productive plains, the
beautiful wales between rolling hills, the
craggy peaks, the yawning chasms, the
cities of Jerusalem, Bethany, Nazareth
present panoramic view nowhere equaled
on earth At the base of the mountain,
between the beholder and the Promised
Land" lies the Dead Sea. This was sig
nificant TO Moses; it meant - Death be-
tween thee and Paradise"
The speaker next takes us into the land
of Moab, into the cities and hamlets of the
Moabites prowls among the wonderful
ruins of those historic people-immense
cities of houses without inhabitants. Here,
no doubt, was the site of
THE CITIES OF THE PLAIN,
And a pillar of salt sixty feet in hight,
which in the distance looks like female
figure, is pointed out to the pilgrim as
Lots wife, and some verify believe Its
She" The lecturer seemed to be a little
skeptical on this point, for he did not
think the Moabites ever had women of
that size. To the west of the Dead Sea are
the gardens of lower Palestine. Here GU
cumbers mature in February, and the best
varieties of apricots and peaches are
produced, as are also the best cereals.
He said the farmers of that country
knew nothing of our plows, har-
rows and cultivators. The ancient
crooked stick, drawn by a COW and a
horse, or a woman and donkey, yoked
together, were used in breaking up the
soil, which, in reality, was mere scratch
the west of the last portion described, was
the most sterile country to be found on the
face of the globe; but he believed it
abounded in a wealth of the precious
metals, and the day will come when the
gold and silver mines of Palestine will at
tract the attention of the world. A short
cut to India from the Mediterranean is
what the commerce of the world demands.
The Dead Sea is 1 200 feet below the sur
face of the Mediterranean, and a canal
connecting the latter with Lake Tiberius
will make of this immense basin
VAST INLAND SEA
From Mt. Carmel to the Red Sea, q shorter
and better route than that by the SueZ
Canal. He next described Bethel, where
Jacob had his vision. The figs of Bethany
are vastly superior to those of Smyrna, the
fruit of commerce. He said the Smyrna
figs were not large as their peculiarly fiat
tened condition would indicate. The Arab
that prepares this fruit for market puts il
under his naked heel, then twirls around
and gives it that beautiful shape so
much admired by epicures. His de-
scription of the hill and valley of
Shiloh was very interesting. To the
ancients Shiloh was the hill of God"
The traveller is here shown the grave of
Deborah. The well of Jacob remains to
this day, and is eighty feet deep. He gave
interesting descriptions of the inhabitants
of the different sections, their maintenance
of the ancient customs of the Hebrew
fathers, of their peculiar funeral services,
and of their ancient historical writings,
some of the books antedating the Chris
tan era by 200 years. The information re-
ceived from the Arabs now inhabiting this
country regarding its ancient history is not
reliable. For instance, they show you
TWO SKULLS OF ST. JOHN,
One when lad, the other when he arrived
at manhood. They show you three graves
of st. John in as many different portions
of the Holy Land. He gave most inter
esting description of modern Nazareth, and
the cost of living in that country. In
Nazareth Protestant church was started
by some Scotch missionaries twelve years
ago, and to-day they have a congregation
of 400, and q church that would be a credit
to any city in the United States. The lee
tHrer was very severe in his criticisms on
modern Masonry, the Knights Templar,
the Roman Catholic Church and the Cru
saders.
Tonight the lecture will be /" From the
Sea of Galilee to Damascus"